“Stop it.” With a scoff, I slapped his hand away. “I can walk.”
Tex appeared in the doorway leading into the kitchen. “Hey, do you need a hand?”
“He’s being stubborn and won’t listen to me.” Pouting, Grey stepped back, holding his arms around me as if waiting for me to stumble.
“I’m fine.” I stepped out of the car on my good leg and rose. A dull ache threaded from my ankle to my knee. “Move, so I can enter the house.”
Grey wrapped an arm around my waist and shut the car door. “I’m helping you inside.”
“Oh, brother.” Tex tsked and shook his head. “I have an ice pack waiting for you.”
“My ankle is still frozen from all the ice at the hospital.” I hobbled next to Grey as he walked me through the door and into the kitchen. I still needed a damn shower, but it might be a problem with the brace.
“I know you need to ice it.” Tex strolled to the freezer and pulled out an ice pack. “Don’t be a dick, Thompson.”
“Great, now I have to argue with both of you.” Grey’s body heat tingled across my skin. It wasn’t terrible having Grey help me though. “I probably stink. I didn’t get to shower.”
“You’re a little muskier than usual.” As Grey helped me drop into the corner of the sectional, his darkened gaze met mine. “I could give you a sponge bath before bed.”
My cock stirred. “I wouldn’t turn that down.”
“Do you two ever think about anything besides sex?” Tex brought the ice pack and a compression bandage to us and held it out. “Here, I’ll let your boyfriend handle it.” He walked off into the kitchen.
Grey’s gaze cut to Tex, and his breath hitched. “Uh, yeah, thanks.” With his lips pursed, he propped my bad ankle on the coffee table and unfastened the boot.
He didn’t seem to like Tex’s comment. But could I blame him? We were friends with benefits, not boyfriends. But then, Tex was just joking. “He’s kidding, Grey.”
As he fitted the ice pack onto my ankle, he said, “I know. It just…caught me off guard.” Sinking his teeth into his lower lip, he straightened. “Can I get you anything? A beer maybe?”
“Hell yes, beers all around.” Tex lunged for the refrigerator and pulled out three cans of beer. “We have a lot to celebrate—a win, Malik’s touchdown and your touchdown, Grey.” Snicking the cans open, he passed them out.
“Thanks.” I tapped my beer on Grey’s and sipped it, monitoring Grey. “You okay?”
“I’m great.” He threw my arm over his shoulder and tucked into my side. “It was hard not being affectionate in the hospital.” He kissed my cheek. “I can’t tell you how many times I had to hold myself back.”
Tex took a gulp of beer and sat at the other end of the couch. “I can imagine that had to be tough. Randy saw nothing, I take it?”
Grabbing my hand, Grey said, “Maybe some hand-holding, but he didn’t comment on it. Anyway, I don’t know if that would be very unusual in this situation.”
“Hell, anyone who saw you two at camp wouldn’t find it unusual.” Tex sank into the couch. “You played well tonight, Grey.”
“I did.” With a nod, a grin tugged at his mouth.
I patted Grey’s thigh. “Maybe Coach will give you more playing opportunities after I return to the field.” Warmth crept across my heart. A regular player might be upset, but I wanted to see Grey succeed. I knew how much it meant to him and the life he wanted.
“Might be time to look for agents.” Tex wagged his brows at Grey.
“Have you talked to any of them?” Lifting his brows, Grey shifted to face me.
“I’ve met with a few. I haven’t settled on one yet.” This would be the year I needed to figure that shit out. “I want to talk to Casey about his agent. I heard Casey got a killer deal, and hisagent would have seen me play with him last year.” I sipped some beer.
Grey picked at the pull tab on his beer. “I haven’t spoken to anyone yet.” He ticked his shoulder. “Maybe no one is interested in me.”
“Don’t you worry about that. I’ll check whether any of the agents I’ve talked with would consider you.” I tapped his shoulder. “Who you know in this sport is half as important as how well you play.”
“Yeah?” Grey beamed at me. “Thanks.”
“No problem at all.” I pulled him closer to my side. “Grey, I’ll make sure you enter the draft this year. With an agent.” We’d have so much fun at the draft together.